Santee Cooper sees decrease in long-term nuclear needs (AUDIO)

The state-owned electric utility Santee Cooper says it may not need all the power to come from two nuclear plants under construction. Santee Cooper owns 45 percent of the V.C. Summer nuclear plant expansion, and SCE&G owns 55 percent.

Gore says that last year, Santee Cooper began evaluating its level of ownership percentage in the new nuclear facilities, a review that continues and has been disclosed with rating agencies and other key stakeholders. Santee Cooper intends to negotiate selling five to 10 percent of power from the V.C. Summer expansion to the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC).

OUC is the second largest municipal utility in Florida, providing electric and water services to more than 221,000 customers in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties.